The Historic Park of Sansalvà
Sansalvà Park is part of the treasure trove of some 20 gems left in the Piedmontese territory by Xavier Kurten, a Prussian landscape architect who, worked in the service of the Savoy family from 1820 until his death in 1840. Kurten worked at Sansalvà for Vittorio Amedeo Balbo Bertone di Sambuy, a minister of the kingdom and plenipotentiary in Vienna in 1830, the same year he designed the Santena park for the Cavour family.
As one might expect, he immediately took advantage of the position of the Sansalvà castle, which had a commanding view over the edge of the flat terrace of the Banna River. His design incorporated views of the Alps and Monviso, connecting the castle, park, and agricultural areas into a single, unified landscape. His innovative “English-style” park, uncommon in Italy at the time, included expansive grassy areas, with trees used as natural frames rather than barriers, framing agricultural scenes and monumental features.
The grandeur of Monviso is highlighted by the Nine Trees (over 42-metre-tall bald ‘cipressi calvi’ or bald cypress trees that are a national monument) and by the former Great Oak (now a sculpture and art installation), a centuries-old specimen showcasing Kurten’s talent for transforming the landscape into a human-scale stage with diverse and dramatic scenery in terms of its colour, spirit and solemnity. Today, the park continues to interact with its visitors, providing a dynamic and engaging experience.
Pallavicini Farmhouses
The Cascine farmhouses are part of the Sansalvà estate and were constructed in the first half of the 1800s, following the marriage of Luigia Carlotta Pallavicini delle Frabose with Count Vittorio Amedeo Balbo Bertone di Sambuy, who was an influential minister and diplomat in Bavaria and Plenipotentiary of HM Sarda at the Imperial and Royal Court of Vienna.
During the same period, the entire estate was renovated; the park had already been redesigned in 1830 by the famous Prussian garden architect Xavier Kurten, curator of Racconigi for the Royal Family. After being widowed in 1846, enterprising Luigia completed the building work. The farmhouses have always historically housed the families of the estate’s agricultural workers.
The current restoration focuses on preserving the original appearance of the buildings as much as possible, with necessary modifications to improve living conditions and energy efficiency, highlighting the original appearance of the structures and emphasising the historical craftsmanship and elegant yet functional architectural design.
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